Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Common Merganser is the largest, and has the thickest bill of the three North American mergansers. Male: A rounded greenish-black head (looks black from a distance), with a red-orange bill distinguishes this species. The breast, sides, and secondaries are bright white, with the white underparts somet more...

Medium-sized Eurasian diving duck, similar in color and shape to Canvasback, with a slightly smaller tricolored bill. Relatively thick-necked with a long, sloping forehead and a fairly large, barely sloping bill that is bluish-gray on the basal half, bluish white over much of the outer half, and bla more...

The now established North American populations of this mid-sized African goose originate from birds that escaped captivity. It is unique in a appearance and unlikely to be mistaken for any other species. It is mostly tawny buff to gray below with a dark brown spot on the lower breast. The fine feathe more...

This is a small, compact goose with a short neck and stubby bill. The face, crown, and hindneck are white. The chin, throat, and foreneck are black, breast and upperparts are dark gray with fine black and white barring. The uppertail coverts are dark, while the tail itself is all white, a unique comb more...

This Old World species is very similar to American Wigeon, and often associates (and sometimes hybridizes) with that species. Male: Drakes have a deep rust-colored head with a buffy crown. The back and sides are gray and finely barred. There is a clear line of demarcation between the rose-colored bre more...

This rare Asian visitor features a short bushy crest (like a ducktail hairdo) on the hindcrown and nape and elongated tertial feathers that combine to make it unlike any other North American duck in appearance. Male: Finely vermiculated gray overall, with a darker scaly pattern on the breast and a bl more...

Resembles Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in size and shape, but Fulvous Whistling-Ducks lack the strong patterns of that species. The head, breast and belly are a warm buffy brown, darker on the crown and hindneck. The throat may appear pale gray. The feathers on the back and wings are dark with rufous more...

This dabbling duck is recognized in all plumages by its smallish bill, blocky head shape, and white speculum. Male: Brownish-gray overall, with some chestnut and black patterning on the wing coverts. The rump and undertail coverts are jet black, and are especially noticeable when the bird is tipped u more...

This vagrant from Europe and Asia is similar in size and structure to Blue-winged Teal. Garganey has a more squared head shape and slightly heavier bill. The white-edged tertials and the white trailing edge on the secondaries (in flight) are distinctive. Male: Shows a bold white supercilium that arch more...

Common farm bird in North America of varying plumages. Wild birds are gray-brown with paler gray breast and pale-edged feathers on upperparts. Belly is often lightly barred or speckled black. White from the belly to the undertail. Scruffy-looking feathers on neck. Large pinkish-orange bill with littl more...

Distinctly larger than Lesser Scaup, this common diving duck is often seen in large flocks on expansive bodies of water like rivers, bays, lakes, and reservoirs. Head shape is the best way to differentiate between these two near identical species. Greater Scaup has a rounded head, with the highest po more...

This goose, which gets is name from the white feathering around the base of the bill, has at least three visually distinct forms that occur in North America. On adults, the upperparts vary from dark earth-brown to gray-brown with variable pale margins on the mantle, scapulars, and coverts creating a more...

Comparable in size to a Bufflhead or Ruddy Duck, this is the smallest North American dabbling duck. It is fairly compact with a small head and a small bill. The North American and Eurasian forms are nearly identical, with only the definitive basic plumage males being readily separable in the field.
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This is a compact duck with a steep forehead and short stubby bill. Male: Unmistakable. Blue-gray overall with chestnut sides. May appear all dark in low light. White markings include a large patch at the base of the bill, a small spot behind the eye, and broad lines on the neck, breast, and along th more...

This tiny diving duck is recognized by its thin serrated bill, thick bushy crest, and fairly long tail. Male: Black head with yellow eyes and a black bill. When the crest is erect, shows a large white wedge outlined in black. When the crest is lowered, the white wedge narrows to a line running back f more...